Splint



Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATE FATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a new and improved first-aid splintarranged to support a broken or injured part of the human body.

Heretofore, various types of surgical splints have been provided for usein hospitals or institutions to brace and support fractures and otherinjuries and require trained and skilled personnel to apply.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simple,eflicient, compact, light 1 and durable first-aid splint for emergencyuse which can be safely applied by anyone, without previous training, atthe scene of the accident, and before moving the injured party so as tolessen the danger of aggravating the injury which might be caused bymoving the party before the splint is applied.

A further object comprehends the provision of a first-aid splintcomprising a flexible body of any suitable size and shape and formed ofan outer piece of material and an inner piece of material which aresewed together to form closed sides and bottom portions. Additionally,the body has spaced lengthwise extending pockets formed by stitchingextending longitudinally of the body. Insertable in these pockets arestays and the inner piece of material has projecting from the open endof the pockets a flap portion arranged to be folded over the stays andengage the front piece so as to retain the stays in position. Theopposed meeting sides of the body are provided with spaced hooksextending lengthwise thereof and arranged to receive a single lacing soas to maintain the splint in proper positions when applied to an injuredpart of the human body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claim and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first-aid splint constructed inaccordance with the present invention showing the position it may assumein operation.

Figure 2 is a front view of the splint in its flat or inoperativeposition.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 4. is a. sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, but with the flap portion in its closed position.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts inthe several views,

I0 designates the body of the splint which may be of any suitable sizeand shape, depending upon the particular use to which it is to beapplied. As shown, the body lll is formed of an outer piece ll ofsuitable light, flexible, durable material, such as fabric or the likewhich, as shown, is of tetragonal shape, but manifestly may be of anyother suitable configuration. An inner piece I2 of substantially thesame size and shape as the outer piece i I is secured thereto at itsmarginal sides and bottom by the stitching I3, so as to provide the bodywith an opened top It. The inner piece I2 has extending outwardly fromthe open top Hi a flexible flap it. The body It is also formed withspace-d longitudinally extending stitches it which coact with thestitching 53 to provide transversely spaced pockets H for receiving thestays it formed of any suitable material such as wood, metaLplastic orthe like.

'The stays it are coextensive in length with the pockets H and areretained in the pockets when the parts are assembled by folding over theflap l5 so as to overlap the front piece Ii. The flap I5 is maintainedin its folded position to enclose the adjacent ends of the stays I8 byany suitable fastening means, such as the pins i9 secured to the outerface I I and the spring eyelet members 29 carried by the flap I5 andarranged to interfit with the pins when the flap is folded over theouter piece Ii, to assume the position as shown in Figure 1. Thus, itwill be seen that the side and bottom stitching I3 and the stitching Itare utilized to form transversely disposed pockets ll of uniform sizefor receiving the stays l8 and are spaced from each other by flat orsmooth portions I9 (Fig. 2) which may vary in width, depending upon theparticular size and shape of the splint and the use to which it is to beapplied. In Figure 2, it will be observed that While the pockets are ofuniform size, the spaces between the fiat portions I9 at the top of thesplint are wider than that at the bottom thereof. The upper end portionof the outer piece of material II may be reinforced by the spacedtransverse stitching 26 and 21.

The opposed meeting sides 22 and 23 of the splint (Fig. 1) are providedwith longitudinal or vertically spaced hooks 2s. A flexible lacing 25 ofleather or the like has a knot or stop 28 at one end and passes throughtransversely spaced eyelets 26 and 2? formed in the body adjacent thecorner or upper end of one of the sides, such as 23, so that the freeend portion of the lacing 25 may be conveniently moved to releasablyengage the hooks 24 when applying the splint for use in emergencytreatment of a fracture or other injury at the scene of an accident andbefore the injured party is taken to a hospital so as to lessen thedanger of aggravating the injury that might result due to lifting ormoving the party before the splint is applied. Thus, it will be seenthat the splint is so constructed and arranged that it may be easily andconveniently applied by persons having no previous experience infirst-aid treatment. {is only a single lacing 25 is used, the splint maybe easily secured in place by the lacing operation, even where this hasto be done in darkness of: where visibility of the splint is obstructed.While the splint is primarily intended for emergency first-aid use atthe scene of an accident izes to provide a brace and support torfractures of the leg, hip or ankle, it may alsobe used with equal 4material, said pieces of material being of substantially the sameconfiguration and size and the inner piece having a flap portioncoextensive in width and extending beyond the adjacent end of the outerpiece, said pieces being secured together at their sides and bottom bystitching and forming an open top for the body arranged to be closed bysaid flap portion, spaced stitching extending longitudinally from thetop of the body to the bottom thereof to for m transversely spacedpockets, stays insertable in said pockets, said body adjacent the topcorner thereof being provided with an eyelet, said flap arranged to gizerlap said eyelet when folded over on said outer piece, so as toenclose the stays when the parts are assembled, the opposed meetingsides of the efliciency as a support for an injured or broken back,pelvis or neck.

m h aire ass 0 bleed, and also. allcws'rcady retrieval; that the splintma be wasiiedbreieafned since,

which the hilt isfappl'ied'fit is soiledby blood} .1 and mud? More, er,Whenrigit q. he l iifi'iny' e fl f s des t6 s u a compact shape an bedieht1yamed in a"p ro 'ctiv'e waterproof casing a; the like without ,a,vI ia 11p top mucn'steia'gespace.

' Irw n b imderstboa that the form Qf the in: ventionsh'owri'is'"mer'ely illustrativev of a preferredembodiment and that suchchanges may be stage as come within the; scope of the follow- .c m

A fi t-a splint or se a he scene of an ccident. including a flexible.body formed of an.

we: pee 9 a a ram a nn r iece of The an '5 PIQ iQeS mea s mel retai't'ays 18in a fiifredpositio when the parts.

not inire'quenny; u to'thlepa'rticiilar'us' tbbody having longitudinallyspaced hooks ofiset relative to one another, and a single lacingextending through said eyelet, said lacing having means engaging thewall of the eyelet for preent r m va 9? th l cin ir m the y let W1 W f91 d ct n re a ve theret said lacing arranged to engage the hooks'forSe.- curing the splint in place on the fractured or injured part of thehuman. body, said flap pore; tion normally retaining the stays withintheir pockets but allowing ready removal of the stays from the splint sothat the latter may be washed 0r cleaned.

MEINROD J. TIMLHNS.

References Cited in the file of this patent,

UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Number Name Date.

66 -2? Co eman Au 2, 190,4 89 Fqrdhem. July 1 3. ,3 5,067 Eeaxdner S t-18,1945

